RPI up 0.2%

The Retail Price Index rose slightly in June, going up to 106.82 from 106.61 in May.

The National Statistics Office said this primarily reflected an increase of 1.79 per cent in the household equipment and house maintenance cost index due to costlier furniture items.

Higher airfares underlay an increase of 1.31 per cent in the transport and communication index.

An increase of 0.65 per cent was registered in the recreation and culture index mainly due to higher priced newspapers.

The clothing and footwear index went up by 0.34 per cent mainly on account of a rise in the price of garments.

An increase in the price of wine caused the beverages and tobacco Index to go up by 0.24 per cent.

A similar rise was registered in the other goods and services index, resulting from an upward movement in the price of non-durable household goods.

The housing index edged up by 0.06 per cent, mainly due to higher prices of home maintenance material.

A drop in the price of fruit and vegetables caused the food Index to decrease by 1.53 per cent.

In June, the 12-month moving average rate of inflation stood at 2.42 per cent, whereas the annual rate stood at 2.17 per cent.